After an early breakfast in Kathmandu, we ride due east to the medieval town of Bhaktapur. Bhaktapur is an ancient city, full of Newari culture. There are many temples and squares here that we will have time to explore. From here we head Northeast to Nagarkot on an excellent and quiet tarmac road. We gradually climb 20km to Nagarkot, on the valley rim, passing steeply terraced farmland and houses that seem to be clinging to the hillside. When we reach the summit we will be able to see the Himalayan range, and on a good day, Mount Everest. We stay in a guesthouse on the ridge.

We ride downhill leaving Nagarkot behind to reach Bhaktapur. Then we leave for Dhulikhel on a dirt trail climbing and descending two hills before reaching the holy Buddhist site of Namo Buddha. According to legend it was here that Buddha, in a previous incarnation, fed his flesh to a hungry tigress as an offering. A stone statue marks the site; there is an active monastery close by. We follow the picturesque view along tarmac and dirt roads back to Dhulikhel. We spend a night at Dhulikhel. Enjoy sunrise in the morning.

We ride on jeep track to the ancient city of Panauti, where Lord Buddha once lived as a prince. This special village-truly lost in time-is rarely visited by tourists. Indreswor Mahadev Temple in Panauti is the oldest surviving temple in Nepal, believed to be constructed in 1294A.D. Climbing west, we follow a jeep track along the meandering Roshi river. Beyond the town of Madhuban, we enter into a narrow pristine valley ascending 300m on superb trail to reach the summit of Kathmandu Valley?s eastern rim known as Lakhuri Bhanjyang. This is probably the oldest route east out of Kathmandu Valley, connecting the ancient cities of the valley with Panauti. What a grunt! But the views of the Himalayas are more than compensate. From the saddle, the descent is on switch-backed jeep track. After an hour and a 500m descent, we come to Sisneri, a quiet valley village. The ethnicity of the people change as we descend from Tamangs, Thakuries and Chhetris to lowland Newari farmers. We then cycle the last part of our journey from Sisneri to Kathmandu city making a quick round-about through Patan Durbar Square.